MNDNR Volunteer Opportunities
Summer 2019
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June 5, 2019
Help Make a Difference
Minnesota Loon Monitoring Program - June 28 - July 8
Help track Minnesota’s loon population! Now celebrating its 26th year, the Minnesota Loon Monitoring Program is recruiting volunteers to count the number of adult and juvenile loons on pre-selected lakes one morning between Friday, June 28, and Monday, July 8, 2019.
Here is what it takes to be a Loon Monitor:
- Complete the survey on one (1) morning between June 28 and July 8, 2019.
- Count loons and complete the survey between the hours of 5:00 a.m.-12:00 noon.
- Commit to surveying for 2 - 4 hours per lake.
- Return completed survey materials.
Turtle Care Volunteers
Gain experience in animal care and proper handling techniques as a Turtle Care Volunteer at Sibley State Park. Work with the Naturalist to learn about painted and snapping turtles, what it takes to keep them safe and healthy, how to safely handle turtles, how to feed and exercise them, and how we use them in public programs on topics such as water quality. You will provide direct turtle care and maintain the tanks they live in.
Duties include:
- monitoring tanks for cleanliness and safety
- judging turtle health
- monitoring turtles during outside swim
- follow and handle turtles as they walk outside, ensuring turtle safety
- catching aquatic insects and feeding the turtles
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Photographing Wildflowers and Pollinators
Use your artistic skills and take this opportunity to help make a difference in documenting the wildflowers, bees, moths and butterflies currently present in the area of St Croix State Park near Hinckley. Your photos will assist us in determining if the pollinators in Minnesota are stable, declining, are vulnerable to decline or are below levels desirable to ensure their long-term health and stability.
Volunteer to:
- Take digital photos of wildflowers and invertebrate pollinators (bees, butterflies, moths) on state and/or private lands in and around St Croix State Park
- No minimum time commitment is required - whatever time and photos that can be taken through October are appreciated.
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Be a State Trail Monitor
Help keep Minnesota’s State Trails beautiful by volunteering as a State Trail Monitor! Not only will you be able to spend time outside on the scenic state trails, but you will also be making a difference!
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Prairie Butterfly Gardening
Do you think bees and butterflies are important to our environment? Have some gardening skills?
Share your knowledge about the importance of protecting pollinator habitat and assist with maintaining the butterfly/pollinator gardens at Whitewater State Park this summer.
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REI Adventure Station
Interested in sharing your love for Minnesota’s State Parks and Trails with others?
The Minnesota DNR Division of Parks and Trails is looking for volunteers to staff the new Adventure Station located at the REI Bloomington Flagship store.
- Help customers research and plan outdoor-related trips with knowledge of MN State Parks and Trails
- Use available technology, maps, and trip guides to answer questions and plan trips
- Provide insight on recreation opportunities
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Visitor Center Greeter at Sibley State Park
Do you love state parks? Do you want to spread that love? If so, a Visitor Center Greeter is just the volunteer position for you!
The Visitor Center Greeter is the smiling face that welcomes visitors and shows them where trail maps, exhibits and rental equipment can all be found. The greeter will also help with checking out equipment and answering questions that visitors have.
- Training is provided.
- Shifts are 2-4 hours long.
- A smile and enjoyment of sharing the park with others is all that is required!
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The Trailhead - State Parks and Trails Outreach
Do you enjoy being active outside? How would you like to share your passion for outdoor recreation to help others discover how fun it is? Then join us at the Trailhead!
The Minnesota DNR Division of Parks and Trails is partnering with the Loppet Foundation at The Trailhead, a new and exciting outdoor recreation facility located in Theodore Wirth Regional Park, 1221 Theodore Wirth Parkway, Golden Valley MN, 55422.
Volunteer to staff the DNR kiosk in this new building to provide resources on outdoor recreation opportunities. Be a part of a new partnership that will continue to encourage getting outside and enjoying Minnesota’s public lands!
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Campground Host Program
If you enjoy the great outdoors, scenic vistas, and the company of other campers, then consider volunteering to be a "live in" host for at least 4 weeks (one month) during the period of April to October at a Minnesota State Park operated campground.
A host’s primary responsibility is to assist campers by:
- answering questions
- explaining campground
- doing light maintenance work around the campground
- picking up litter
- sweeping and stocking supplies in toilet buildings
- performing emergency minor repairs when possible
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Improve Habitat for Wildlife in Wright, Stearns or Sherburne Counties
The State of Minnesota has over 1,000 public wildlife areas designated for wildlife watching opportunities of birds, waterfowl and mammals, as well as offering public hunting of small and big game animals. These Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) need help in maintaining and enhancing the land so wildlife can thrive.
Individuals or groups interested in volunteering to help wildlife can do a one-time event or come back several times.
As part of a typical volunteer workday on a MN Wildlife Management Area (WMA) you could:
- Collect prairie seeds
- Monitor and control terrestrial invasive species (i.e. Buckthorn)
- Help with trail projects and trash pickup
- Assist with boundary and sign maintenance
- Clear vegetation from shallow lake and wetland water controls
- Monitor shallow lakes and wetland water levels
- Collect and/or seed wild rice
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Minnesota Conservation Volunteer Magazine
Your nature magazine since 1940
Support Minnesota Conservation Volunteer by donating today!
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Critical
Habitat License Plates
The critical habitat
plate replaces the standard Minnesota license plate on your vehicle.
Contributions help preserve our natural resources. Choose from nine different
designs!
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Special
State Parks License Plate
Be one of the first to sport the brand-new Minnesota State
Parks and Trails specialty license plate and we’ll all go far! The license
plate provides you with unlimited visits to all 75 Minnesota state parks and
recreation areas for an entire year—no vehicle permit required. Now available at Driver and Vehicle Services
offices statewide.
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Take the Challenge!
You’re invited on a geocaching quest through
Minnesota’s state parks and trails. Use a GPS unit to find hidden caches while
discovering the fascinating plants and animals that live in our waters. The
hunt ends October 31, 2020.
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What do DNR Volunteers do?
Find out in this fun 90 second video!
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